After using natural deodorant for over two years, I have learned quite a bit and tried several brands. So I’m spilling the details on why you should make the switch plus four honest natural deodorant reviews!
PHOTOS BY DEEANNA KOURTNEY PHOTOGRAPHY
I’ve talked a lot about clean beauty lately. Including how I’ve been making the switch more and more (even more to come on that soon). Well this whole process actually started with natural deodorant. It is honestly such a great place to start as your pores are absorbing all of the ingredients from the deodorant you are putting on into the surface of your skin where there are many lymph nodes. This happens more for women vs. men as we typically put deodorant on right after we shave in the shower. Leaving skin sensitive and pores open! Traditional deodorants and antiperspirants are typically full of harsh chemicals which again are being absorbed through your pores and into your body. Ewww, am I right?
One of those harsh chemicals is aluminum. If you look at the ingredients of your deodorant, chances you’ll find aluminum listed there – if using traditional deodorants and antiperspirants. Aluminum carries several harmful side-effects including breast cancer and Alzheimer’s in women. Reason enough to make the switch in my opinion!
Reasons to make the Switch to Natural Deodorant
Breast Cancer & more. As mentioned above, Alzheimer’s and breast cancer have been linked to aluminum. The reason for this is the fact that aluminum chloride found in antiperspirants could increase estrogen receptors and estrogen gene expression in the breast tissue. Why does that matter? Well several studies have shown that high levels of estrogen have been linked to breast cancer cell growth. Scary, right?
Sweating is a GOOD thing. Yep, you read that right – you are suppose to sweat. Sweating is your body’s natural way of getting rid of toxins on a daily basis. As well as regulating your body’s temperature. Aluminum used in antiperspirants blocks your sweat glands which then prevents you from sweating. This is what keeps your underarms dry but also keeps those toxins from being expelled on a daily basis.
Sweating isn’t what makes your smell. Is your mind being absolutely blown right now? Rather than sweat being the culprit of your stinky underarms, it’s actually due to bacteria on your skin. When sweat comes in contact with that bacteria it then causes body odor. Antiperspirant and traditional deodorant (especially antiperspirants) block your sweat glands causing a build up of good bacteria that disgusts sweat which then limits it’s ability to digest the bad bacteria. Therefore, the contact of your sweat with that bad bacteria is what causes major body odor!
Now I know you’re thinking, “but what about the detox phase? I’ve heard it’s terrible” – I won’t lie to you, it isn’t great. However, it is absolutely worth it and depending on your body chemistry may not last too long. Typically, you can expect about a two week period. Sometimes a little less, sometimes up to four weeks.
What To Expect During the Detox Phase
Once you stop using antiperspirant/traditional deodorant and switch to natural deodorant, you will experience an increase growth of odor-causing bacteria in your underarm area. During this time, you won’t smell great. I recommend reapplying throughout the day or starting with a charcoal underarm mask. An underarm mask may help to remove the build up of antiperspirant/traditional deodorant. As well as, detox your underarms, help to eliminate odor, reduce irritation that may be caused by natural deodorant, and increase the effectiveness of natural deodorant. Aside from a few stinky days, you may also feel additional moisture, however this is temporary.
Tips for going through the detox phase
- Stay hydrated! This helps your body rid of everyday toxins and may speed up your detox process. Keep a water bottle with you at all times to make sure you’re staying hydrated!
- Wear tank tops or old tees when you can. You will be sweating a lot more than normal as your body detoxes. With natural deodorant you’ll find shirts clean better however, you’ll be detoxing so you may have some stains.
- Be patient. Again, this process can take two weeks (more or less depending on your body chemistry). Also, the first natural deodorant you try may not be the one for you! However, you will have gone through the detox phase so with the next one you shouldn’t experience that again. Instead it will be a reaction to how that one works with your body!
- Take hot baths. Hot baths will to help open your pores and encourage sweating to help to flush out toxins. Exercising and getting your heart pumping will also encourage sweating and flush those toxins out while burning calories – win win!
Four Honest Natural Deodorant Reviews
After trying out many brands, I have found those that don’t work, those that do work, and one that works best for me. I also recently came across two additional natural deodorant brands I plan on trying next. After using each for a couple of weeks I will update this post and let you know my thoughts on those. Just remember that everyone’s body and chemical makeup is different. The brand that works great for me may not work for you and one that didn’t work for me, may be the perfect one for you! My recommendation is to test a few brands and give them each at least 2-3 weeks. After that time frame you’ll know if the brand works for you or if it’s time to move on to the next!
Schmidt’s Lavender & Sage
This is the very first natural deodorant I tried. I purchased it while on a media trip in Asheville with my girl friend Lacey. We had just talked about natural deodorant the night prior and when I spotted Schmidt’s in Lavender Sage at Urban Outfitters, I decided to go for it. Since this was my first natural deodorant I definitely went through the detox phase! For me it lasted about two weeks and included lots of quite stinky underarms and lots of additional moisture. Both of which I was not at all use to. However, once the two weeks passed, both decreased.
With Schmidt’s, I continued to feel stinky even after the two weeks. While it did decrease some, it still lingered. I’m not 100% sure others smelt it as the lavender sage scent is pretty strong. However, I spelled myself and didn’t love it. I continued to use Schmidt’s until I finished the bar but decided to move on after that.
Rating: 2
Tom’s of Maine Wild Lavender
Next, was Tom’s of Maine in Wild Lavender. When I ran out of the Schmidt’s after deciding I wasn’t going to order another from the brand, I hadn’t decided which brand to try next but needed something stat. That resulted in me purchasing at the grocery store instead of ordering online. Tom’s of Maine happened to be the only natural deodorant option at our grocery store, so needless to say it was the one I came home with.
By far my least favorite natural deodorant I have tried. I gave it a go for two full weeks but could not go on any longer. I was stinky, there was always moisture under my arms, and my tops/dresses were left with either yellow or white marks after every single use. While they washed right out, it became quite a pain having to wash every top/dress after only one wear.
Rating: 1
Kopari Coconut Oil
I absolutely loved and absolutely hated this deodorant at the same time. If you love coconut at all you cannot beat the smell of Kopari’s Coconut Oil deodorant – it is amazing! The deodorant also goes on incredibly smoothes and feels pretty amazing on your underarms. It also seems to keep odor at bay. A total win in my book! However, the moisture was never ending. I mean within minutes of putting the deodorant on I felt moisture in my underarms.
I think this is partially due to the fact that the deodorant is made with coconut oil – which obviously turns to liquid when warm. As well as possibly getting a slightly bum stick. I say this due to the fact that my mom also order Kopari Coconut Oil deodorant when I did and her stick looked a lot different from mine. Hers was white vs. mine being a slightly tan color – see in photo. While in Charleston I also borrowed some of hers and did not have the same problem as I did with mine. Now I only used it once so maybe it was a one off or maybe I did in fact receive a bum stick originally. Either way, I do think it’s worth giving Kopari Coconut Oil a try – I will definitely be doing so again!
Rating: 4
Native Lavender & Rose
This is the deodorant I am currently using. While I love the smell of this bar, I do not love the smell of my underarms after a little sweating while wearing it. This is going to sound very bizarre but when wearing Native Lavender and sweating, my underarms smell like black pepper. Yep, you read that right, black pepper! So incredibly random but Joshua has confirmed that is the smell. I definitely wish that wasn’t the case as I love Native’s solid bar, the way the deodorant goes on, and how it keeps moisture at bay. However, I cannot handle the black pepper smell!
I have several friends that have used Native previously or currently do and they have not experienced this. So I am thinking it is my body’s chemistry and the mix of the Native that does not work together. However, I may give another scent a try and see if the outcome is possible different. I have heard great things about the coconut & vanilla scent. Have you experienced the black pepper smell with Native? Or has it worked perfectly for you and your body’s chemistry?
Rating: 3
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I’ve always heard great things about Native! I’ve got to give it a try!
Hopefully you don’t have the black pepper smell as well!! Definitely let me know how it goes for you!
xo Laura Leigh
I am absolutely trying natural deodorant now!! All of this information is so helpful!
Yay! I am so happy to hear that!
xo Laura Leigh
I have the Native deodorant with vanilla and coconut and LOVE it!
x Lisa | lisaautumn.com
Definitely need to try that one – seems most people have had great experiences with it!
xo Laura Leigh
I’ve actually been wondering about this! Thank you for sharing such an honest post. It’s super helpful!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Of course gal! Thank you for taking the time to read!
xo Laura Leigh
Ok this post was SO eye opening! I get so nervous about the detox portion of making the switch…and I sweat A LOT! But definitely going to try this out because it’s beneficial to my health!
Dana | The Champagne Edit
I am so happy to hear you found it to be! The detox phase definitely isn’t the most fun but is absolutely worth it! And if you sweat a lot it may honestly go by a little quicker for you.
xo Laura Leigh
You’re one of the people that has inspired me to make the switch!! I’ll be trying Native soon and will give you a “black pepper” update! 🙂
-Morgan
How 2 Wear it [] http://how2wearit.com
Yayyyy I am super happy to hear that! And I cannot wait to hear about your Native experience!
xo Laura Leigh
Thank you for the recommendations. I will look into it. Also could you share how you do the waves – your hair looks amazing.
❥ tanvii.com
Of course gal – thanks for reading! Funny enough, I shot a curling tutorial the same day as we snapped these photos. I will be sharing next Monday!
xo Laura Leigh
Ah girl your posts are SO freaking awesome every time. I love that you do such in-depth posts and actually give tips/advice.
Re. this one – i am actually in the process of switching to natural deodorant right now so this post was SO helpful! I’m trying the La Vanilla sport luxe. have you heard of it? It comes highly recommended. It was amazing for the first few days but now Im definitely getting more sweaty and noticing more odor. Hopefully this is just the detox phase. Now that I know about that I will definitely stick with this another week and see what I think after that!
You just absolutely made my day with that incredibly sweet comment! Thank you so much Lee 🙂 you truly have no idea how much your kind words mean to me! I am thrilled you enjoyed this post. I haven’t heard of La Vanilla but definitely sounds as though it is worth a try. I am sure it is the detox phase you’re experiencing right now. Hopefully it wraps up soon!
xo Laura Leigh
Thanks for the suggestions and reviews! I need to switch up my deodorant.
Of course! Thank you for checking out the post!
xo Laura Leigh
This was so interesting to read, especially because you did so much personal research in trying multiple brands. I’m grateful for that because it’ll help me out in the future. I’m still on the fence about switching because I’ve always sweat more than the average woman but if it’s healthier it may be worth it in the long run!
Yay I am so happy you found it be interesting and helpful! Girl, I am with you on the sweat factor. I’m sweating almost 24 hours a day – but still think it’s worth switching!
xo Laura Leigh
I am a closet natural deodorant addict. My favorite is Piper Wai from Shark Tank 😀 Tom’s is wonderful too though!!
Oh I will have to try that brand. I’ve never heard of it! As you may have read, Tom’s did not work for me as well. But super glad to hear you found it to work for you!! So crazy how our different body chemistry’s respond to natural deodorants.
xo Laura Leigh
I loved the feel of Kopari, but I didn’t feel like it held up with my workouts! I just snagged Native and I can’t wait to try it.
Totally get that! Definitely let me know what you end up thinking of Native.
xo Laura Leigh
I so appreciate your honest review! I’ve been trying out natural deodorant for a while but think I need to make a switch as it’s not been too effective IMO!
xo, Laura
Of course gal! Would definitely recommend switching if you’ve tried for 2-3 three weeks and haven’t noticed any difference.
xo Laura Leigh
Hey lady! Try Primally Pure. I had similar experiences with all the brands you mentioned in this post and Primally Pure is the best ever.
Oh that is awesome to hear – I will definitely give it a go. Thank you!
xo Laura Leigh